Japanese shipping giant MOL says that its Technology Research Centre has successfully tested a water-based antifouling treatment, called Water Coat, on six ferries.
The test was jointly conducted with MOL Group company MO Engineering Co. Ltd and NM Corporation Watercoat enterprise, a group statement said.
It noted that the Water Coat treatment has already been widely adopted for use on buildings, automobiles and electric railcars. However, this marks the first time in the world that it has been used on large vessels.
NM has acquired a patent on this anti-fouling system, which transforms running water into functional hydrophilic water with a proprietary ceramic device, and uses a pressure washer to spray it on to the surface that needs protecting.
The anti-fouling treatment is semi-permanent and contains environmentally-friendly ingredients, and it does not require cleaning with detergent, thus reducing water consumption and the overall environmental burden. Furthermore, the coating reflects ultraviolet rays and increases weather resistance, the release said.
|
